[[File:Whitmire_shambala.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Steve Whitmire]] wearing a Shambala t-shirt on the set of ''[[Sesame Street]]''.]]

The '''Shambala Wild Animal Protection Act of 2000''' was a proposed amendment to the [[United States]] Animal Welfare Act. During a press event on March 29, [[2000]], the bill was introduced to the US Congress by Representative Tom Lantos of [[California]]'s 12th congressional district. Celebrities [[Tippi Hedren]], [[Melanie Griffith]], [[Bo Derek]] and [[Kermit the Frog]] appeared on Capitol Hill in support.

The '''Shambala Wild Animal Protection Act of 2000''' was a proposed amendment to the [[United States]] Animal Welfare Act. During a press event on March 29, [[2000]], the bill was introduced to the US Congress by Representative Tom Lantos of [[California]]'s 12th congressional district. Celebrities [[Tippi Hedren]], [[Melanie Griffith]], [[Bo Derek]] and [[Kermit the Frog]] appeared on Capitol Hill in support.

Speaking with the press, Kermit said that as a "representative of the animal kingdom," it was important to "pass this bill to prevent the continuing abuse and cruelty toward exotic animals in this country." After posing for photos with Derek, Hedren and Griffith, he went on to mention that he too would be endangered, "When I go home to Miss Piggy, I'm going to be in serious trouble."[1]